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Tajikistan votes for new leader Tajiks wait on election verdict
(about 12 hours later)
Polls have opened in the Central Asian republic of Tajikistan, so the nation's 3.2 million eligible voters can elect their next president. Polls have closed in the Central Asian republic of Tajikistan, where 3.2 million eligible voters have been choosing their next president.
While the incumbent, Emomali Rakhmonov, is widely expected to win a third term in office, there are doubts over whether the poll will be free and fair. Emomali Rakhmonov is expected to win a third term but has admitted the poll is unlikely to be entirely free and fair.
The three main opposition parties are either boycotting the vote or have refused to field candidates. Three main opposition parties are either boycotting the vote or have refused to field candidates.
Even those that are standing have refused to criticise Mr Rakhmonov. Electoral officials reported a turnout of about 83% four hours before voting ended. Results are due on Tuesday.
The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said last week that it had seen no sign of competitive campaigning. The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) said last week that it had seen no sign of competitive campaigning.
Rare rally
Tajikistan has never held an election that has been judged free and fair by international observers.
Mr Rakhmonov won the last presidential poll in 1999 with 96% of the vote - raising concerns among Western observers.
Mr Rakhmonov himself said on Monday that expectations of a Western-style election free from any irregularities or abuses were wide of the mark.
It would be absolutely not correct if we said now that this election will be held 100% in line with the OSCE standards Emomali RakhmonovTajik president
"Tajikistan is a country populated 99% by Muslims, and it's a completely different culture and that has to be taken into account," he said.
"But we are developing. We have started this process, and naturally it is not without problems. It would be absolutely not correct if we said now that this election will be held 100% in line with the OSCE standards."
Widespread supportWidespread support
Mr Rakhmonov is a former communist official who has been Tajikistan's head of state since independence in 1992.Mr Rakhmonov is a former communist official who has been Tajikistan's head of state since independence in 1992.
He is known for his hardline policies, and has already courted controversy by changing the constitution, allowing him to theoretically stay in power until 2020. He is known for his hardline policies, and has already courted controversy by changing the constitution, theoretically allowing him to stay in power until 2020.
In Monday's poll, he faces three little-known candidates from parties that are sympathetic to his government, and few analysts will be surprised if he wins another seven years in power. He faces three little-known candidates from parties that are sympathetic to his government, and was hotly tipped for another seven years in power.
Rakhmonov has done so much to make things better Sakhobat, fruit seller Q&A: Tajik elections In fact none of his opponents have directly criticised the 54-year-old leader during campaigning, fuelling suspicions that at least some of them were chosen by the authorities. Rakhmonov has done so much to make things better Sakhobat, fruit seller Q&A: Tajik elections No opponents have directly criticised the 54-year-old leader during campaigning, fuelling suspicions that at least some of them were chosen by the authorities.
Nevertheless, public support for Mr Rakhmonov is undeniable.Nevertheless, public support for Mr Rakhmonov is undeniable.
Despite the fact that the country is still very poor, many people are just thankful that they no longer have to face the civil war that blighted the nation in the 1990s, killing more than 50,000 and causing over one-tenth of the population to flee the country. Tajikistan is still very poor, but many people remain thankful they no longer have to face the civil war of the 1990s, which killed more than 50,000 and caused more than 10% of the population to flee the country.
"Rakhmonov has done so much to make things better," said 43-year-old fruit seller Sakhobat."Rakhmonov has done so much to make things better," said 43-year-old fruit seller Sakhobat.
"We had a war here and it ruined everything," she told the Associated Press. "We're still poor, but if you want to work, you can find something to do.""We had a war here and it ruined everything," she told the Associated Press. "We're still poor, but if you want to work, you can find something to do."
Rare rally
Tajikistan has never held an election that has been judged free and fair by international observers.
Mr Rakhmonov won the last presidential poll in 1999 with 96% of the vote - raising concerns among Western observers.
This time the opposition has boycotted the elections in protest at what it says is little more than a Soviet-style show poll.
On Saturday the opposition held a rare rally in the streets of the capital Dushanbe, during which three activists were arrested.